Hostess Hot Dog and Hamburger Bun Recall Issued Over Salmonella and Listeria Risks

Concerns over a potential food poisoning risk from listeria and salmonella contamination have led to a recall for Hostess hot dog and hamburger buns distributed nationwide.

The FDA announced a Hostess Soft White Hamburger Buns and Soft White Hot Dog Buns recall on August 16, indicating they may carry a risk of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella food poisoning. However, there have been no reports of illnesses related to the recall, according to the manufacturer.

Hostess indicates the recall comes after the company was made aware of the problem by its co-manufacturer, Best Harvest Bakeries, through its environmental monitoring program.

The recall only impacts the Hostess Soft White Hamburger Buns and Soft White Hot Dog Buns. Hostess Brands has received no reports at this time of any illnesses related to the contamination of the products.

The hamburger buns have an item UPC code of 888109110987 and the hot dog buns have an item UPC code of 888109110970.

For healthy individuals, salmonella food poisoning symptoms typically include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain lasting between four and seven days. The illness can become worse due to the delay in treatment because the infection can only be diagnosed by testing stool samples and is usually treated with antibiotics.

Among pregnant women, salmonella poisoning may cause stillbirths and miscarriages. Occasionally, salmonella infections may travel through the bloodstream and produce illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis, which can cause severe to potentially life-threatening health consequences.

The Listeria monocytogenes organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, posing a particularly serious risk for persons with weakened immune systems. However, even healthy individuals can suffer side effects, including short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Among pregnant women, listeria monocytogenes infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

Listeria poisoning symptoms usually start one to four weeks after eating the food with the bacteria, but they can start the same day or even up to 70 days after consumption. In some cases, severe illness may result if the bacteria spreads beyond the gut to other areas of the body. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise speaking with a doctor if you experience any symptoms of headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, fever, and muscle aches after eating the contaminated product.

Hostess Brands and the FDA are asking consumers to return the buns to the store of purchase or to throw the buns away. If consumers have any questions, they can contact Hostess Brands at 1-800-483-7253.